Apparatus for and method of registering firearm serial numbers

ABSTRACT

In an installation for registering the serial numbers of firearms in a computer, a plurality of stations, each having a television receiver displaying the image of the serial number of a firearm being registered, and a unit operatively associated with the computer and providing a keyboard and a display screen next to the television receiver, with an operator assigned to each station, and each operator instructed first to produce, by selective manipulation of keys of the keyboard, a duplicate of the televised serial number for appearance of an image of the operator-produced number on the display screen, then visually to compare the number images for their identity or non-identity, and finally to cause entry in the computer of the operator-produced serial number if found by the operator to be identical with the televised serial number. The computer is programmed for various processing of the entered serial numbers, including a test of the latter for their identity or non-identity, and their clearance for further processing toward registration and storage if found identical, but cancellation of the entered serial numbers if found non-identical and signalling of the non-identity of the entered serial numbers to the operators. Further processing of a cleared serial number includes a test of the same for possible duplicity with a previously registered and stored serial number, and registration and storage of the cleared serial number if not a duplicate, but cancelation of the cleared serial number if a duplicate, and signalling the duplicity of the serial number to the operators.

United States Patent 1 Roth [ 1 Dec. 11, 1973 I APPARATUS FOR AND METHODOF REGISTERING FIREARM SERIAL NUMBERS [75] Inventor: Miles I. Roth,Orange, Conn.

[73] Assignee: The Marlin Firearms Co., North Haven, Conn.

122] Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 279,475

Primary Examiner-Raulfe B. Zache Attorney-Walter Spruegel [57] ABSTRACTIn an installation for registering the serial numbers of firearms in acomputer, a plurality of stations, each having a television receiverdisplaying the image of the serial number of a firearm being registered,and a unit operatively associated with the computer and providing akeyboard and a display screen next to the television receiver, with anoperator assigned to each station, and each operator instructed first toproduce, by selective manipulation of keys of the keyboard, a duplicateof the televised serial number for appearance of an image of theoperator-produced number on the display screen, then visually to comparethe number images for their identity or non-identity, and finally tocause entry in the computer of the operator-produced serial number iffound by the operator to be identical with the televised serial number.The computer is programmed for various processing of the entered serialnumbers, including a test of the latter for their identity ornon-identity, and their clearance for further processing towardregistration and storage if found identi' cal, but cancellation of theentered serial numbers if found non-identical and signalling of thenon-identity of the entered serial numbers to the operators. Furtherprocessing of a cleared serial number includes a test of the same forpossible duplicity with a previously registered and stored serialnumber, and registration and storage of the cleared serial number if nota duplicate, but cancelation of the cleared serial number ifa duplicate,and signalling the duplicity of the serial number to the operators.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF REGISTERINGFIREARM SERIAL NUMBERS This invention nelates to the registration offirearms in general, and toe method of and apparatus for registeringfirearms at the manufacturing source in particular.

Federal regulations compel firearm manufacturers to mark all firearmswith permanent individual identification indicia, usually in the form ofserial numbers, and to keep permanent records not only of these serialnumbers but at least also of the parties, usually wholesalers, to whomthe respective firearms are shipped. Such records are required forvarious purposes, including the tracing of the purchaser of anyparticular firearm from available records starting with those of themanufacturer. Various systems are used by different firearmmanufacturers to make such records and have them available at all times.While these various systems are generally satisfactory for the intendedpurposes, they all involve the human element in setting up andmaintaining the required records, and for that reason alone give rise tooccasional errors. In this connection, a human error in correctlyentering the serial number on any firearm into the system isparticularly serious, because once the error is committed there is norecord at all of the particular firearm at the manufacturing source.Also, these various systems make it exceedingly difficult, if notpractically impossible, to check whether a serial number being enteredinto the system might be a duplicate of a previously entered serialnumber.

It is among the objects of the present invention to register for entryinto a record system the serial numbers of firearms one at a time by anoperator who is called upon to actuate the keys on a keyboard in orderto duplicate the serial number of a firearm, with the operator havingwithin ready view for comparison at a glance enlarged images next toeach other of the actual serial number being registered of a firearm andof the serial number produced by the operator's key operations. Withthis arrangement, registration of an actual serial number on a firearmis not only the operators control, but is advantageously also reservedfor the operator's inspection which for utmost accuracy requires no morethan easy and correct visual comparison of the enlarged images of therespective serial numbers.

It is another object of the present invention to register theaforementioned operator-reproduced serial numbers of firearms in acomputer in which the registered serial numbers are also stored andavailable for many purposes. Thus, the present system avails itself ofthe versatile and errorless performances of a computer that may properlybe programmed for many desired performances, such as, besides enteringand storing the reproduced serial numbers, also operating andcontrolling associated apparatus for making typed records of certaindata of registered firearms, affording instantaneous information ofother vital data concerning any registered firearm, checking any serialnumber being registered for possible duplicity with a previouslyregistered serial number and immediately indicating to the operator thedetected duplicity of any serial number being registered with apreviously registered serial number, for example.

It is a further object of the present invention to register theoperator-reproduced serial numbers of firearms in a computer asaforementioned, and to provide for the operator's share of theprocedure, on the one hand a television system of a camera andpreferably thereto wired receiver, of which the camera is focussed onthe applied serial number, usually on the receiver of a firearm which isquickly and removably placed, preferably by the operator, in properlocation on a nearby suitable support, while the receiver displays theaforementioned enlarged image of the photographed serial number, and onthe other hand a registering unit which is operatively associated withthe computer for various different operations under computer control,and includes the aforementioned keyboard and a display screen preferablynext to the television receiver and on which appears the aforementionedenlarged image of the number reproduced by the operators manipulation ofthe requisite keys on the key board. Thus, the registering unit mayoperate to show on the display screen the enlarged image of a serialnumber as it is being reproduced by the operators key manipulations, andthe keyboard has, besides number keys, other keys among which arepreferably an enter" key which on manipulation by the operator willcause entry of the reproduced serial number in the computer for variousprocessing, including registration of a non-duplicate number andnonregistration ofa duplicate number, and an erase key which onmanipulation by the operator will cause erasure of the image of thereproduced serial number on the display screen and thus prevent itsentry in the computer if the operator finds on compulsory comparison ofthe displayed number images that the reproduced number deviates from theactual serial number.

Another object of the present invention is to register theoperator-reproduced serial numbers of firearms in a computer asaforementioned, but to involve several, for example two, operators inthe task of registering firearm serial numbers in the computer, with alloperators going through the aforementioned procedure simultaneously butindependently of each other, except that one operator will place afirearm to-be-registered on the designated support with its serialnumber in focus with the single camera that serves all televisionreceivers, one for each operator. This permits highly advantageousprogramming of the computer to com pare the numbers reproduced,inspected and entered by the individual operators, and to register thenumber if the several entered numbers are identical, but to omitregistration if any entered number deviates from any other enterednumber and to signal the discrepancy to the operators attention, as by asuitable message on each operator's display screen, for example. In thisfashion, the computer will even serve to check the accuracy ofperformance of the operators, and will guarantee the registration ofonly correct firearm serial numbers regardless of any and all humanerrors that could conceivably be committed in dealing with any se rialnumber, save only the extremely unlikely registration of a number whichis not a duplicate of a previously registered serial number and isidentical with all reproduced numbers that carry the same identicalerror.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a firearm bearing a serial number;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly diagrammatic, of a featured installation forregistering the serial numbers of fire arms in accordance with an alsofeatured method; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of programmed performances of a computer part ofthe installation.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 2 thereof,there is shown an installation for processing, including registering forpermanent record ing, the identifying markings of firearms. Thesemarkings are customarily serial numbers n which differ from firearm tofirearm and which are usually stamped in the metal receivers offirearms. Thus, in the exemplary firearmfin FIG. I, the serial number nis stamped in a rear tang 1 of the metal receiver r. In this instance,the leading part 72" of the serial number represents the exemplary yearl972 in which the firearm is registered by the manufacturer, while theremainder of the serial number distinguishes this particular firearmfrom all other firearms registered in the same year by the samemanufacturer.

The installation 10 provides a firearm support 12, a television system14, a serial number transfer system 16, and a computer 18.

The firearm support 12 provides in this instance a bench or the likewith upright blocks 22 having recesses 24 in which is removably receiveda firearm f that is to be registered. ln thus placing the firearm in therecesses 24, the firearm is accurately located with its serial number non the tang t of the receiver r in photographing relation with a fixedcamera 26. In this example, the camera 26 is beneath the top 28 of thebench 20, with the top 28 having an opening 30 through which to exposethe firearm serial number n to the camera 26.

The television system 14 provides in this instance a plurality oftelevision receivers 32, presently two, and a television camera which isthe camera 26. The camera 26 is advantageously wired to the receivers 32as at 34. The preferred arrangement is such that a televised, andpreferably enlarged, image i of the actual serial number n of a firearmwill appear on the screen 36 of each receiver 32 as long as the firearmis properly located on the support 12, and these images i will disappearwhen the firearm is removed from the support 12.

The serial number transfer system 16 provides in this instance aplurality of units 38, presently two, each of which has a keyboard 40with keys 42, and a display screen 44. The units 38 are located atdesignated stations SI and S2 at which assigned operators independentlyattend to the respective units 38. These units 38 are operativelyassociated with a computer 18 and are wired with the latter as at 46 and48. The keys 42 of each keyboard 40 provide marked character keys 42a,in this instance number keys from 0 to 9, and special keys, including inthis instance an enter key 42b and an erase" key 42c. The televisionreceivers 32 are associated with the respective units 38 to the end ofhaving each display screen 44 and associated television screen 36 withinready view of the operator at the respective station S] or S2. Thefirearm support 12, while preferably remote from thestations S1 and S2,is preferably sufficiently close to one of these stations, for examplestation S2, to be readily attended to at little expenditure of time bythe operator assigned to station S2.

The computer 18 may be of any known available type which can beprogrammed for various desired perform ances, including certainhereinafter described operations of the units 38, and the units 38 arealso of known available type.

Assuming that the computer 18 is properly programmed for the variousdesired performances, the installation 10 is used for registerig theserial numbers of firearms in the computer wherein these serial numbersare processed as programmed, including their storage and for theproduction of available records of vital data pertaining to therespective serial numbers, such as the identity of the party to whicheasy registered firearm is shipped from the manufacturer. The thusrecorded data pertaining to any registered serial number are the actualand accurate data on a firearm the serial number of which correspondsexactly to the registered serial number. Accordingly, it is of thegreatest importance that the actual serial number on a firearm istransferred to the computer for registration without any possible error,and the present installation serves that purpose despite unavoidableinvolvement of the human elemerit.

Thus, in use of the installation, the appointed ope rator will quicklyplace a firearm to-be-registered on the support 12, with the result thatthe enlarged images i of the actual serial number n will appear on thetelevision screens 36 and thereby indicate to the observing operatorsthat the television system is properly operating and that the firearm isproperly located on the support 12. Each operator is then called upon toreproduce, independently of the other operator, the number of thetelevised image 1 before him, by selectively manipulating the numberkeys 42a of his unit 38, with the unit 38 operating to display on theassociated display screen 44 an image i of the number produced by theoperators key manipulations. Each operator is then called upon visuallyto compare the rather closely adjacent number images i and i before himat his assigned station, and to manipulate the enter" key 42b on thekeyboard 40 if he finds the compared numbers to be identical, and tomanipulate the erase key 420 if he finds an error in his key-producednumber. Manipulation by the operator of the enter key 42b will bringabout entry of his key-produced number in the computer, whilemanipulation by the operator of the erase" key 420 will bring abouterasure of the number image i on his display screen 44. In the lattercase, the same operator will again undertake to duplicate, by keymanipulations, the number of the televised image ion the respectivetelevision screen, and again compare the image i of his produced numberon the display screen 44 with the as sociated televised number image i.Having been confronted with his own error in the first place, theoperator will on second try be particularly careful to cor rectlyduplicate the televised number image i, so that on comparison of theimage i of his second produced number with the televised number image 1'he will almost certainly find the numbers identical and there uponmanipulate the enter key 42b to cause entry of his second producednumber in the computer.

The computer 18 in this instance is programmed to start processing anyentered serial number only when each operator's independent serialnumber has been entered. Therefore, if one operator enters his serialnumber before the other operator enters his serial num ber, the computerwill suspend processing until both serial numbers are entered.

In this instance also, the computer is programmed to first process therespective entered serial numbers by subjecting them to a comparisontest as to their identity or non-identity. If this comparison test bythe computer should establish non-identity of the entered serialnumbers, the computer will, according to program, operate to causeerasure of the number images i on both display screens 44, and alsosignal the non-identity of the entered serial numbers to authorizedpersonnel, preferably by producing on the display screens 44 a visualmessage, such as "Wrong Number," for example, for the attention of theoperators as the authorized personnel. However, if this comparison testestablishes identity of the entered serial numbers, the computer clearsthe particular serial number for subjection to another duplicity" testfor which the computer is also programmed, with this test being a checkof the cleared serial number for possible duplicity with any previouslyregistered and stored serial number in the computer. If this furthertest establishes that the cleared serial number is not a duplicate ofany previously registered and stored serial number, the computer willregister and store the cleared serial number. However, if this testshould establish that the cleared serial number is indeed a duplicate ofa previously registered and stored serial number, the computer willcancel out the cleared serial number and operate to cause erasure of thenumber images i on the display screens 44, and will also signal theduplicity of the entered serial numbers to authorized personnel,preferably by producing on the display screens 44 a visual message, suchas Duplicate Number," for example, for the attention of the operators asthe authorized personnel and for calling on the operators to set asidethe particular firearm for a change of its serial number.

Once the computer registers and stores a serial number, the latter isfurther processed in accordance with the particular programming of thecomputer, involving, for example, operation and control of associatedavail able apparatus (not shown) for making typed records of certaindata of registered firearms, with the computer also affordinginstantaneous information of vital data concerning any registeredfirearm.

Processing by the computer of any entered serial numbers, first fortheir identity or non-identity, then for possible duplicity of a clearedserial number with any previously registered and stored serial number,and finally registration of a non-duplicate serial number, is virtuallyinstantaneous, and the computer may be programmed to cause erasure ofthe serial number images i on the display screens 44 the moment thecorresponding serial number is registered. Erasure of the serial numberimages i' on the display screens without any substitute message thereonwill indicate to the operators that the particular serial number isregistered, so that the firearm on the support 12 may now be replacedwith another firearm which is to-be-registered in following the samedescribed procedure.

Reference is now had to FIG. 3 which shows a flow chart of theprogrammed performances of the computer insofar as they have beendescribed. The computer components for the various programmedperformances are simply represented by stages A to F within thedotted-line encirclement. Thus, the operator-produced serial numbers areentered at stage A.

When both of these serial numbers are entered, stage B will be activatedto compare the entered serial numbers for their identity ornon-identity. If they are found to be identical, the correspondingserial number is cleared for the duplicity test and stage C will beactivated to compare the cleared serial number for possible duplicitywith any previously registered and stored serial number. On the otherhand, if comparison of the entered serial numbers establishes theirnon-identity, stage E will be activated to cancel out the cleared serialnumber, erase the images of the operator-produced serial numbers on thedisplay screens 44, and produce on each of the latter the visibleexemplary message Wrong Number." If the duplicity test at stage C of thecleared serial number establishes that the latter is not a duplicate ofa previously registered and stored serial number, stage D is activatedto register and store the cleared number and to erase the images of theoperator-produced serial numbers on the display screens 44. However, ifthis duplicity test should establish that the cleared serial number is aduplicate of a previously registered and stored serial number, stage Fwill be acti vated to cancel out the cleared serial number, erase theimages of the operator-produced serial numbers on the display screens 44and produce on each of the latter the visible exemplary messageDuplicate Number."

While the involvement of a plurality of operators in the transfer ofaserial number ofa firearm to the computer secures several importantadvantages, including permissible programming of the computer for thedescribed identity or non-identity test of the entered serial numbersand cancelation of non-identical entered serial numbers, as well assignalling the non-identity of the entered serial numbers to authorizedpersonnel, it is also within the purview of the present invention toinvolve in the transfer of a serial number of a firearm to the computeronly a single operator. In that case, there would, of course, be noobject in programming the computer for the previously described serialnumber identity or non-identity test, wherefore any serial numberentered in the computer under the operator's control would be subjectedto the duplicity test, and would be registered and stored if theduplicity test es tablished that the entered serial number is not aduplicate of any previously registered and stored serial number. Insofaras the transfer of the correct serial number on a firearm to thecomputer is concerned, reliance would in that case be on the visualcomparison by the operator of the image of his key-produced serialnumber on the display screen with the televised image of the actualserial number of a firearm on the support 12.

What is claimed is:

1. Method of registering in a computer firearmidentifying markings ofdifferent character combinations for different firearms, which providesdisplaying for observation by an operator at a designated station animage of the actual marking on a firearm, selectively manipulating bythe operator at said station keys of a keyboard for intended duplicationof the displayed marking, displaying within view of the operator at saidstation the marking produced by key manipulation for prescribed visualcomparison by the operator of both displayed markings for their identityor nonidentity and under the operators control entering the duplicatedmarking in the computer for registration.

2. Method of registering in a computer firearmidentifying markings ofdifferent character combinations for different firearms, which providesdisplaying for observation by each of a plurality of operators an imageof the actual marking on one and the same firearm, selectivelymanipulating by each of the operators keys of a keyboard for prescribedduplication by each operator of the displayed marking, displaying forobservation by each operator the marking duplicated by the latter forprescribed comparison by the particular operator of both displayedmarkings for their identity or non-identity, and under the control ofeach operator entering the latters duplicated marking in the computer.

3. An installation for registering firearm-identifying markings ofdifferent character combinations for different firearms, comprising atelevision system of a single camera and a plurality of receivers; asupport for removable placement thereon of a firearm with its marking inphotographing relation with said camera for display of the markingsimage on each receiver, with said receivers being at different stationsassociated with different operators; a computer; and identical devicesat said stations, respectively, and operatively connected with saidcomputer, with each device providing a board with character and otherkeys of which the character keys are selectively manipulatable by anassociated operator for prescribed duplication of the televised markingimage within view of the associated operator, and a screen whichdisplays to the view of the associated operator the key-producedmarking, with one of said other keys being manipulatable by theassociated operator to enter the key-produced marking in the computerfor programmed processing.

# t i i l

1. Method of registering in a computer firearm-identifying markings ofdifferent character combinations for different firearms, which providesdisplaying for observation by an operator at a designated station animage of the actual marking on a firearm, selectively manipulating bythe operator at said station keys of a keyboard for intended duplicationof the displayed marking, displaying within view of the operator at saidstation the marking produced by key manipulation for prescribed visualcomparison by the operator of both displayed markings for their identityor non-identity and under the operator''s control entering theduplicated marking in the computer for registration.
 2. Method ofregistering in a computer firearm-identifying markings of differentcharacter combinations for different firearms, which provides displayingfor observation by each of a plurality of operators an image of theactual marking on one and the same firearm, selectively manipulating byeach of the operators keys of a keyboard for prescribed duplication byeach operator of the displayed marking, displaying for observation byeach operator the marking duplicated by the latter for prescribedcomparison by the particular operator of both displayed markings fortheir identity or non-identity, and under the control of each operatorentering the latter''s duplicated marking in the computer.
 3. Aninstallation for registEring firearm-identifying markings of differentcharacter combinations for different firearms, comprising a televisionsystem of a single camera and a plurality of receivers; a support forremovable placement thereon of a firearm with its marking inphotographing relation with said camera for display of the marking''simage on each receiver, with said receivers being at different stationsassociated with different operators; a computer; and identical devicesat said stations, respectively, and operatively connected with saidcomputer, with each device providing a board with character and otherkeys of which the character keys are selectively manipulatable by anassociated operator for prescribed duplication of the televised markingimage within view of the associated operator, and a screen whichdisplays to the view of the associated operator the key-producedmarking, with one of said other keys being manipulatable by theassociated operator to enter the key-produced marking in the computerfor programmed processing.